Vehicle-top.



' n. F. OLIVER, own.

L. F- OLIVER, EXECUTRIX.

VEHICLE TOP. APPLICATION FILED IULYZM 1915- RENEWED APR Patented Aug.13, 1918;

WI TNESSES r s m e. a N .0 N CL Z R w 1 m I m A w M w Q V .1 WWMW? -1 wl MP/71%.

rnz uonms warns cafPnmu-uma. WASHINGTON- u. n.

D. F. OLWER, DECD.

L. r. OLIVER, ExEcuT'mx.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' ATTORNEYS :rear top bow broken out;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nocTon FRANKLTN OLIVER, or OAKLAND, oamnonmn; LILLIE r. 0mm Emcwmx 10FSAIDD. FRANKLIN OLIVER,DECEASED.

whitewater.

Specification of Lettershlacent. A ug; 13, 1918,

- A pnatimf filed July '21, m altime: 411083. Renewed April 26, 1918.Serial ns-236,998.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ,DooToR FRANKLIN ()ii'r'vnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Oakland, in"the"countyof Alameda and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and l Improved Vehi'cle Top, of whichthe followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention'relates to vehicle topsand the object of the presentinvention is to provide a new and improved Ivehicle top, more especiallydesigned for use on standard bodiesfof automobiles 'and likevehicles andarranged to keep the cover properly stretched under different weatherconditions, to allo'wfor expansion and contraction, and to permit theoperator to easily and "quickly raise or "low eifithe top or extend therearporti'on only over the rear part of the vehicle, whilethe frontpartfolded to be out of the wayot the occupants of the vehicle. p I

Inorclerdo produce the desired result, useis niade of 'spi'ihg 'bressedside arm's pivoted intermediate their ends on the sides of the vehiclebody, a back bowattached to the rearendsfiof the' said side arms; ayielding rear top bow' fulcrumed on the saidside arms; and a coverextendingfiom the said back how over the "reartop bow to-thc said middlebow.

practicalembodiment of the invention is "represented 'in' theaccompanying "drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsinii'lar characters of reference indicate coriespoiiding p'airtsin all'the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation'ofthe vehicle bodyin" extended" positionand; applied to a standard automobile body, parts being shown brokenout;

'Fig. 2 is a reducediplan; view of the same with the cover omitted, andportions of the Fig; 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation ofzone'of the side arinsand its connectiOnwith the--back bow, the rear top bow,the middle bow and the'brace for the side arni;

Fig. 4; isan'enlarged sectional-plan view of the pivotal connecti on'ofthe side arm with the vehicle body; Fig; 5 is a cross section of oneofthe side arm and its connection with the rear top how, the middle bowand its brace, the section being on thel-ine 5-5 of Fig; 3;

Fig. 6 jis an enlarged transverse section of the vehicle top as-ap1ied,- the section being on the line 6 6 of ig. 1',andshowmgmoreparticularly the brace for the middle bow;

Fig. 7-is an enlarged cross section of the locking device for lockingthesections of the side arm brace in place the section being on the line.77 of Fig. 3;

Fig.- 8 is anenlarged plan View of the spring connection'of the frontbow or cross bar with the Wind shield; and

v Fig.9 is a cross section 'of the strap length in position on thebracket attached to the vehicle 'body, and with the split end of thesidearm engaging the-strap when.

in folded position.

On thesides of the vehicle body A and near the rear endthereof aresecured bracketsB provided with transverse pivots Bon a ba'ck'bow Dextending around the back of the vehicle body A. The forward portions ofthe side airlns C have 'their'tops cut out to forrn"channelsC and therear ends of the side walls of the channels C are extended upwardly tofo'rmlugs C carrying' transversefpivots 011 the pivots E are mounted toswing the sides of the rear top bow F1 and the sides of the middle bowGg the sides ofthe middle bow normallyeXtending in the channels C so asto limit their forward and downward swinging movement in the side ar1ns,but to allow the iniddle bow toswing rearwardly into folded'positioin'as shown in dotted lines in -Fig. 1. 'The cover H; of astiitable fabricmaterial, isinade in sec tionsfof which the' back section H is securedat its lower ed'ge'to the back bow D and is fastened at its upper end toa spring plate l secur-ed to the middle portion of the rear-top bow-F.The section H of the cover H'has its rear end attached to the plate Iand then extends over the middle bow'G' and over an auxiliary bow J to iconn'ect with a front bow or'eross bar K detachablvmounted on the upperend of the frame of the wind shield L of the autolinks N with brackets 0attached to the ve-' hicle body A adjacent the rear portion thereof, asplainly indicated in Fig. 1. Each bracket 0 is provided with a shortbearing P carrying a U-shaped link P detachably engaged by the eye P ofthe strap P connected at its upper end with a bracket P attached to thecorresponding side arm of the middle bow G so as to hold the latternormally in a forwardly and upwardly inclined position, as indicated inFig. 1. Each link N is made in two sections N, l 2 pivotally connectedwith each other by a pivot N the link section N being preferably formedof two bars extending beyond the pivot N to engage opposite, sides ofthe section N. The section N is provided with a locking pin N (see Figs.3, 5 and 7) adapted to engage recesses N formed in the side bars of thesection N and which side bars havehooks N to normally hold the ends ofthe pin N in the recesses i as shown in Fig. 7. The ends of the pin l 4are slightly beveled to permit of disengaging the pin l from therecesses Ni and hooks N on exerting a downward and rearward pressure onthe section N thus opening the sections N and N and allowing the same tofold into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It is understoodthat when the link N is folded a downward swinging motion is given tothe forward part of the side arms C while the back bow D is lifted torelax the section H of the cover H.

The side arms C are spring-pressed to cause the back bow D to exert adownward pull on thecover section H to hold the latter taut. For thepurpose mentioned, use is made of a spring B coiled on the pivot pin Band attached at one end to the lug C of the corresponding side arm C,while the other end of the spring B is attached to a collar B secured onthe outer end of the pivot B by a set screw 13*. On loosening the setscrew B and turning the collar B the tension of the spring B may beincreased or decreased as desired. The sides of the collar B areflattened, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3, to allow the application of awrench or other tool for turning the collar when changing the tension ofthe spring B as above explained.

The rear top bow F has its side arms made in sections F, F of which thesection F is mounted to slide in a sleeve F secured on the other sectionF (see Fig. 3). A spring F is arranged within the sleeve F and engageswith its ends the sections F, F 2 so as to hold the section F yieldinglyon the section F thus compensating for any strain that may be exerted bythe cover H onthe outer section F of the rear top bow. A pin F extendsthrough the section F into slots F 6 formed in the sleeve F 3 to limitthe sliding movement of the sleeve F relative to the section F 2fulcrumed on the pivot E.

The auxiliary bow J is provided at each side with a slot-J terminatingin a seat J engaging a pin J 3 on the corresponding side of the middlebow G to allow of holding the bow J either in the extended positionshown in Fig. l, or in folded position, as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 1. The bow J is held inclined in an upward and forward direction bythe use of straps J connecting the middle portion of the middle bow Gand the auxiliary bow J with each other, as plainly indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2. The straps J are madeadjustable, that is, provided with the usual buckles, indicated in Fig.1, to permit of swinging the auxiliary bow J into a higher or lowerposition relative to the cover H to properly support the latterintermediate the middle bow G and the front bow K.

The front bow or crossbar K is provided with U-shaped fiat springs K,each terminating in an eye or loop K fitting removably onto a verticalstud L formed on the upper end of the frame of the wind shield L (seeFigs. 1, 2 and 8). The free end K of each spring K is extended beyondthe eye K and this end is engaged by a clamping screw K held on thespring K and serving to clamp the. eye K firmly in position on the studL. The bolt K is preferably provided with a Wing nut K which can bereadily unscrewed to release the eye K from the stud L with a view topermit the operator to disengage the eye from the stud whenever it isdesired to fold up the front portion of the cover H on the front bow orcrossbar Kand to attach thefolded-up cover and front bow, by suitablestraps, to the middle bow G whenever it is desired to extend the coverover the rear portion only or leave the front portion of the body Auncovered.

.It will be noticed that when the cover H is in extended position, it isheld taut by the yieldingly mounted back bow D, the yieldingly mountedsection F of the rear top bow F and the yieldingly mounted front bow orcrossbar K so that any expansion or contraction is compensated for andthe cover is at all times kept taut. From the foregoing, it will be seenthat by the arrangement described no roof straps are required, and. allpadding, usually employed to take care of sagging of the cover, isdispensed with. In case any expansion or shrinkage in the cover takesplace owing to the diflerent weather conditions, such change is takencare of by the yieldingly mounted bows, as above described.

In order to lower the vehicle. top, the operator first opens thesections N, N of the links N to swing the forward ends of the side armsC downward, thus pulling the 1,271sies1 middle bow G and with ittheauxiliary bow J downward to slacken the top section H of the cover H.As soon as the cover section H has slackened, the operator can readilydetach the front bow or'crossbar K from the frame of the wind shield L,as previously described. The operator neXt disengages the seats J 2 ofthe auxiliary bow J from the pins J to allow the middle bow to slidedownward with the pins J 3 sliding inthe slots J. When this has beendone, the forward poi tion H ofthe cover H is rolled up on the front bowK and attached with the latter to the bow G by suitable'straps Q, on thebow Gr (seedotted lines in Fig. l). The operator now swings the bows Fand Gr rearwardly and downwardly into the position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. l, to fold up the back sections H of the cover H as wellas the rear portion of the top section H of the cover H. The bows arethen inclosed in the usual envelop provided for this purpose. The freeforward endof the channel C of'e'ach side arm C is preferably split toclampingly engage the top of the bearing P, as plainly indicated in Fig.9, thus holding the side arms against accidental movement while thevehicle top is in folded position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A vehicle top, comprising side arms mounted to swing on'the sides'ofthe vehicle,

a middle bow mounted to swing on'th'e said arms at a point intermediateone end of the arms and the fulcrums thereof, the middle bow beingadapted to rest on the said ends of the sidearms, a rear top bowfulcruined onthe s'aidside arms, a back bow rigidly at tached to thesaid arms, and a covering at tached, at one end to the said backbow andextending over the said rear top bow to connect with the said middlebow.

2. A vehicle top, comprising side arms mounted to swing on the sidesofthe vehicle, a middle bow mounted to swing on the said arms at a pointintermediate one end of the arms and the fulcrums thereof, the middlebow being adapted to rest on the said ends of the side arms, a rear topbow fulcrumed 011 the said side arms, a back bow rigidly attached to theside arms, braces pivotally connecting the said side arms with thevehicle body at points forward of the fulcrums of the said side arms,approximately vertical braces connecting the said middle bow with thevehicle body, and a covering attached at one end to the said back bowand extending over the said rear top bow to connect with the said middlehow.

3. A vehicle top, comprising side arms mounted to swing on the sides ofthe vehicle, a middle bow mounted to swing on the said arms at a pointintermediate one end of the arms and the fulcrums thereof, the middle onthe said side arms and made in sections yieldingly connected with eachother,a back bow rigidly attached to the said arms, and a coveringattached at one end to the said back bow and extending over the saidrear top bow to connect with the said middle bow.

4. A vehicle top, comprising side arms mounted to swing on the sidesofthe vehicle, a middle bow mounted to swing on the said arms at a pointintermediate one end of the arms and the fulcrums thereof, the middlebow being adapted to rest on the said ends of the side arms, a rear topbow fulcrumed onthe said side arms and made in sections yieldinglyconnected with each other, a spring plate attached to the said rear topbow and extending beyond the same in a forward and rearward direction, aback bow rigidly attached to the said side arms, and a cover made insections, of which one is the back section and the other the topsection, the said back section of the cover being attached'at one end tothe said back bow and at the other end to the saidspring plate and thesaid top section of the cover being attached at one end to the saidspring plate and at its other'end to the middle bow.

5. A vehicle top, comprising side arms pivoted intermediate their endson the sides of the vehicle body, a back bow attached to the rear endsof the saidside arms, a middle bow attached to the forward ends of thesaid side arms, a yielding rear top bow fulcrumed on the said side arms,and a cover extending from the said back bow over the rear top bow tothe said middle bow.

6. A vehicle top, comprising side arms pivoted intermediate theiren'dson the sides of the vehicle body, a back bowattached to the rear endsofthe said side arms, a middle bow attached to the forward ends of thesald side arms, a yielding rear top bow fulcrumed on thesaid side arms,a front bow having a yielding support engaging the wind shield of thevehicle, an intermediate bow fulcrumed'on thesaid middle bow andextending upwardly and forwardly intermediate the said middle and frontbows, and a cover extending over the said bows, the rear cover end beingattached to the said back bow and the front cover end being at tached tothe said front bow.

7. A vehicle top, comprising side arms pivoted intermediate their endson the sides of the vehicle body, a back bow attached to the rear'endsof the said side arms, a middle bow attached to the forward ends of thesaid side arms, a yielding rear top bow fulcrumed on the said side arms,braces connecting the said side arms with the vehicle body, bracesconnecting the said middle bow with the vehicle body, and a coverextending from the said back bow over the rear top bow to the saidmiddle how.

8. A vehicle top, comprising side arms pivoted intermediate their endson the sides of the vehicle body, a back bow attached to the rear endsofthe said side arms, a middle bow attached to the forward ends of thesaid side arms, a yielding rear top bow fulcrumed on the said side arms,a front bow having a yielding detachable connection with the wind shieldof the vehicle body, and a cover extending from the said back gow overthe rear top bow to the said middle 9. A vehicle top, comprising sidearms mounted to swing on the sides of the vehicle body, a back bowattached to said side arms, a yieldingly mounted rear top bow fulcrumedon the side arms, a middle bow mounted to swing on the side arms, afront bow yieldingly connected with the wind shield of the vehicle body,and a cOVer attached to the said back and front bows and extending overthe said rear top bow and the said middle bow.

, 10. A Vehicle top, comprising side arms mounted to swing on the sidesof the vehicle, a middle bow mounted to swing on the said arms at apoint intermediate one end of the arms and the fulcrums thereof, themiddle bow being adapted to rest on the said ends of the side arms, arear top bow fulcrumed on the said side arms, a back bow rigidlyattached to the said arms, torsion springs, adjustable means connectingthe said torsion springs with the said side arms, and a coveringattached at one end to the said back bow and extending over the saidrear top bow to connect with the said middle bow.

11. In combination, a vehicle body provided with a wind shield having aframe, studs on the said frame, a front bow, and fiat springs attachedto the front bow and having eyes detachably engaging the said studs.

12. In combination, a vehicle body provided with a wind shield having aframe,

beyond the eye, and a bolt engaging the said spring and its extendedfree end to permit of clamping the eyes in place on the correspondingstud. I

13. The combination with a vehicle body, of tubular and spring pressedside arms ful crumed adjacent their rear ends on the sides of thevehicle body, a back bow having its sides engaging the rear ends of thesaid side arms, pivots carried by the forward portions of said sidearms, a middle bow and a yieldingly mounted rear top bow mounted toswing on the said pivots of the side arms, and a cover extending fromthe said back bow over the rear top bow to the said middle bow.

14. In combination, a vehicle body, side arms pivoted adjacent theirrear ends on the sides of the vehicle body, a back bow having its sidesattached to the rear ends of the said side arms, a middle bow having itssides fulcrumed on the forward portions of the said side arms, a reartop bow fulcrumed on the side arms and made in sections yieldinglyconnected together, a front bow having a detachable spring connectionwith the wind shield of the vehicle, an intermediate bow fulcrumed onthe said middle bow and adjustable on its fulcrum, the said intermediatebow extending upwardly and forwardly intermediate the middle and frontbows, adjustable means connecting the middle portions of the middle andintermediate bows together, and cover extending over the said bows fromthe back bow to the front bow.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DOCTOR FRANKLIN OLIVER.

Witnesses FANNIE 'MANDERBAGH, ANNETTE MARKHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

